Enhancing Access to Ajanta Caves

• 12 Aug 2024

On 10th August, 2024, the Ministry of Railways and Maharashtra government announced that they are collaborating on a rail line connecting Jalna and Jalgaon, spanning 174 km.

• The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will soon see improved accessibility with a new railway project.
• The Rs 7,106 crore project, co-funded by the state and central governments, will feature India’s longest transport tunnel at 23.5 km.
• The project aims to cut travel distance between Jalna and Jalgaon by nearly 50%, enhance connectivity in Marathwada, North Maharashtra, and neighboring regions, and support regional industrial growth.
• Expected benefits include generating 60 lakh man-days of employment, reducing CO2 emissions by 54 crore kg, and stimulating local industries.
• The rail line is anticipated to be completed in 4 to 5 years, and will also facilitate better port connectivity and transportation of agricultural products.
• The Ajanta Caves, known for their ancient Buddhist murals and rock-cut monuments, are located about 100 km northeast of Ellora and 104 km from Aurangabad.